THE Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Muntinlupa City has ordered the transfer of high-profile detainee Jose Adrian “Jad” Dera, who is a co-accused in the remaining drug case filed against former senator Leila de Lima, from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) detention center to a regular jail facility in Muntinlupa City.
Dera’s transfer came more than two weeks after he was able to sneak out from his NBI detention with the assistance of his security escorts to seek medical attention for gastritis or acid reflux.
The incident resulted in the filing of criminal charges against Dera before the justice department for corruption of public officials.
The six NBI security officers who helped him to get out his detention center were also charged for violation of Republic Act 3019, commonly known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Dera has denied bribing NBI officials to allow him to leave the detention facility.
The DOJ also filed a motion before the Muntinlupa RTC seeking Dera’s transfer to the Muntinlupa City Jail Male Dormitory.
The DOJ cited the impending demolition of the NBI detention facility in seeking Dera’s transfer.
In an order dated July 3, Muntinlupa RTC Branch 204 Presiding Judge Abraham Joseph Alcantara granted the request of the DOJ, which previously sought the assistance of the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) in requesting the court to allow Dera’s transfer.
Responding to the DOJ request, the OCA then issued a memorandum directing the court to issue a commitment order for the immediate transfer of Dera.
“Accordingly, the Chief of the Security Management Section, NBI, is hereby directed to turn over the body of the living person of accused Jose Adrian Dera to the Muntinlupa City Jail Male Dormitory, Tunasan, Muntinlupa City who is ordered to take custody of said accused during the pendency of the case and until further orders from the Court,” it added.
The NBI earlier entered into a memorandum of agreement with the Bureau of Corrections, Muntinlupa for the use of their facility as a temporary detention center for its detainees to pave the way for the demolition and construction of the new NBI buildings and detention facility in Taft, Manila.
Dera has denied bribing NBI officials to allow him to go out of the detention facility.
He is facing a drug case before the Muntinlupa RTC where he is accused of running the illegal drugs trade inside the New Bilibid Prison with detained former senator de Lima when the latter was still the DOJ chief during the administration of the late former president Noynoy Aquino.